Rights, Bulgaria - Two women take on defense ministry

Two young women are suing Bulgaria's Ministry of Defence over gender discrimination in the mainly ceremonial, National Guard - a case that could go a long way in changing patriarchal social norms. Elena Krasteva, 22, and Gabriela Galabova, 21, both law students, argue that the problem lies with a 2005 legislation which prohibits women, who are otherwise enlisted in the National Guard, from doing duties that require them to do the salute. The Defence Ministry has cited the law to deny women equal opportunities. On Jul. 14, the two women filed a suit challenging the law, which flouts both national and European anti-discrimination laws, in the Bulgarian Supreme Administrative Court.